Double-walled waterproof boot



March 1954 E. E. GOSSNER 2,673,405

DOUBLE-WALLED WATERPROOF BOOT Filed July 24, 1950 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 30, 1954 DOUBLE-WALLED WATERPROOF BOOT Louis Ernest Elwin Gossner, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Treg, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application July 24, 1950, Serial N 0. 175,605

1 Claim.

This invention pertains to an improved waterproof boot structure designed to be used with waterproof trousers to form a fluid-tight seal between the top portion of the boot and the lower extremity of the trouser leg when the lower extremity of the trouser leg has been inserted into the top portion of the boot and confined therein. The present application is a continuation, in part, of my pending application, Serial No. 92,635, new Patent Number 2,603,888, granted July 22, 1952.

It has long been a problem in the art to provide a truly waterproof juncture between the top portion of a waterproof boot and the lower portion of a waterproof trouser worn with the boot. One solution of this problem is disclosed in my earlier application. Another and improved solution is disclosed herewith which insures a complete and watertight seal between the trouser bottom and the boot top under all conditions of wear.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide an improved boot top structure which is designed to receive the lower portion of a trouser leg and which will form therewith a complete and watertight seal.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a boot top structure in which a complete and unbroken fluid seal is maintained about the entire circumference of the boot top under all conditions.

It is a further object of this invention to evolve a waterproof insert member which may be incorporated with any waterproof boot to convert it to a boot structure embodying the present invention.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved clamping or fastening means for such a boot structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved boot top for such a boot structure which is designed to receive a full diameter trouser leg and to form a completely watertight seal therewith.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof boot incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of this embodiment of the boot with the boot top in closed and clamped position with the trouser leg inserted in the boot top;

Fig. 3 is a top elevation of the embodiment of the boot shown in Fig. l, in open position, with the lower portion of the trouser leg inserted therein;

. one-third of the height Fig. 4 is a plan view of a pressure form or support band used in the interior of the novel boot top structure.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, [2 indicates a waterproof boot of rubber or other appropriate flexible material which is provided at its forward lateral extremity with appropriate off-center lacing ties l3 which are preferably disposed laterally of the forward edge of the boot for a purpose hereinafter to be discussed. As shown, the top or upper portion of the boot is preferably formed in a full curve, the rearward portion of which is of considerably smaller diameter than the forward portion, and is provided with an inner wall I 4 and an outer wall l5 which as shown are appreciably separated from each other at their top extremities and which progressively approach closer to each other to meet along a line A approximately of the boot from its top. Inner wall It and outer wall 55 preferably curve outwardly from the rear seam of the boot to its forward extremity to provide a somewhat elliptical curve to the boot top.

An inner support-band or pressure-form i6 is shown supported about the rear inner periphery of inner wall M as by means of support band loop .l! which is appropriately cemented or stitched about the rear central periphery ofinner wall [4 and lies in a horizontal plane midway between the boot top and the line of juncture A of walls It and i 5. Inner support band it is preferably hinged at its rear extremity, as shown in Fig. 7, is preferably adjustable in circumference and carries a female clamping means l8 at one extremity and a studded male end is at the other extremity designed to removably engage female I 8. Support band [6 is preferably slidable within loop l7.

As shown, inner wall I4 is preferably provided adjacentits rearward and forward extremities with snap studs 20 and 2| for a purpose hereinafter to be discussed. A series of binding strap loops 22 are provided about the outer periphery of outer wall 15 about its median line and lying in the same horizontal plane as inner support band I 6. As shown in Fig. 1, preferably three clamping strap loops are provided, one to the rear of the boot top, the others disposed at its lateral extremities. Clamping strap 24 which is preferably flat and braided of cord, nylon or other appropriate material is shown inserted through loops 22 about the outer periphery of outer wall 15 of the boot top. Clamping strap24 is preferably of greater length thanthe circumference of outer wall I5. It is provided at its forward central portion with clamping strap plate 25 which is formed of any appropriate material and is preferably curved to conform to the curvature of outer wall I5. Clamping strap plate 25 is provided adjacent its two lateral extremities with clamping strap loops 26 and 21 through which the extremities of clamping strap 24 are passed and in which clamping strap 24. is slidably engaged. Ali-p 26 is pref erablyprovided'with a downwardly turned hook member 28 for a purpose hereinafter to be discussed. The two extremities of clamping strap 24 preferably pass through anchamerelidablyrengaged in a slot 29 disposed in the lower extremity of clamping lever 30 whicheextends upwardly therefrom. Clamping lever "30 "is preferably formed of metal or other appropriate material and is designed to be fittedeunderhookwfi, as shown in Fig. 2, whenthe boot and trouser structure is in folded and clamped position. Aknurled and inwardly tapered 'stud or projection 3| is "provided at onerextremity' ofi elamping-z strap 24 i to wedge the two-extremities: of Ither -clamping strap within slot 29 of lever 30 when strap 244s pulledtightwithin slot 29. The lower portion of a= shown Fig. 1,' disposedabove: the double wall boottopirr position to bezinser-tedbetween' inner wall I4 and outer-' -wall Il thereof. 'Trouser leg 32 may-be provided witli-femalesnap members' 33 and 34 designed to -register with male snaps 2B and 2| carried by dnnerwvall 14 of the boot top. Asshown;- trouser bottom 32 is of substantially the same fullness"and circumferenceas the space 1 between innerwal1 -l4 and-outerwall l5- ofthe boot top and is designed tote-readily 'insertable between walls I 4 and; -'l E without surplusor' wrinkling. By providing a--la rgecircumference to the double wal1ed=boot topand trouser structure the insertionof-the lower extremity-ofthetrouser v betweenthewalls of the-boot top isgreatly facilitated andan'improved 'contact-or seal therebetweenis obtained as-willibehereinafter discussed in detail.

ASIShOWn inFig. 2' of thedrawingthe doublewalled-portion of the boot top preferably extends downwardly to a-idistance approximately equal to one-third of the; height of' the: boot, at which point the lower extremities .of walls l4.and l5 are sealed-together as loy-stitching or cementing along peripheral line A. "'As".hereinb'efore .stated' the space between inner wall Mnandxouter wall'15 gradually 'decreasesifromi the. top extremity of the" boot to' the line of juncture A d between the two walls.

' In the embodiment .ofjthe .bootfshown in Figs. 1; 2 and 3.of the drawing; ithe followingprocedure is" followed to form a'watertight joint or connection between the boot. t ll andlthejtrouseri leg. Withthe inner spppojrt band; ileadjusted .tothe desired circumference, of jthe wearersi .leg and closed about'the leg and with the. boottopin completely open position, with clampin strap .24,- and .the boot laces-openythe lowerportion, of, trouser leg 32 is inserted'intothe space between'inner wall I4-and outer. w'all"l5 loftheboot, top. .The lower; portion of trouser. ;l$g;32 .isjthen pushed downwardly between. walls 14. and 1 5. .until its lower edge reaches the junctureQIineA of walls l4 .and 15. jSnaps33 andStarethenssnapped.to

.snaps120 and 2|, of-.inner.,wall 14 to hold the trouser legin position. in thespace. .betweenwalls l4. and. '15. ,-With the trouser leg inproper-posi- .;tion. :in Sthe space.betw.een the .wallsraysmooth single ifoldris made aof .thehentire boot 430p .and trouser-leg... asshownnxrsEig: 2.;of :thesdrawing.

'f'ull trouser leg' 32 -is and clamping strap 24 is pulled up tight about the outer periphery of the boot top until the desired tightness is attained over inner support band l6. With clamping strap 24 pulled tight and stud 3| holding its extremities within slot 29 of lever 30, lever 3 is turned through 90 to the. right to..increase the tensionon strap 24.

. Lever-iseais then inserted' under. hook 28 to hold port band 16.

strap 24 and the boot top and trouser combination under considerable tension over inner sup- The free extremity of strap 24 imayjthenibelinserted through one or more of loops 22 .to prevent its swinging free. It will be notedithatwherrthe boot top is folded as above I. described .the'.fold line will fall centrally of the lacing patches 13, as shown in Fig. 2. With the =top portionof the structure in closed and clamped position the laces may then be pulled tight over "the fold line and tied in the conventional manner.

her-perspective view of innersupportband 6 is shownin Fig; 4 or-thedrawing. "Slotted female head leis shown, disposed at one extremity and extremity and-may be adjusted in circumference studded male head i 9 is disposed atthe" other. Support band it is=preferably hinged at its'rear fications without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, a. conventional rubber laced boot could be formediwith the upper portion bf its top provided with'do'uble walls between which the lower edge of a trouser leg could be inserted and held merely bythe pressure of the boot laces.

An inner support band could be provided interiorly of the inner walloi this structure toprevent undue pressureuponthe leg) of the wearer.

As vhereinbefore stated, the "circumference of theboot, top as shown in 'Figs.. l, Zand 3.of .the drawing is preferably large, i. e.,,on the order. of 181 /2. to, 20 inches, andthe.v trouser leg! designed to be inserted therein is. preferably. of thesame -.cir-

, cumference.

The. depth of the space betweeninnerand outer walls I4 and I5 01" the sealing structureispref- .erablyon the, order of irorn-three to founinches,

but. this depthmaybe varied at will depending upon theproblem involved.

.The. inventionmay. be embodied ina structure of considerably smaller circumference, ,i.-e.,-,-.on

I the order of v8" tolO, depending upon thez-size of the .leg and .theparticular sealing problerrrto be met.

. The structure of. the outer clamping strapmay be. varied within wide. limits without departing from. the spiritof this'invention. Further the particularform of theinner support band maybe varied at will, the embodimentsrof,.-both inner support band 2 and. outer clamping strap shown being by Way-oi illustration only and being in no sense intended tolimit the range of equivalents which may-beused.

The invention is primarily designedv to evolve :a complete and watertight seal-between a waterproof boot and the lower extremity of a waterproof trouser but it may beused also withanonthe invention. Attention is directed to the appended claim for a limitation of its scope.

What is claimed is:

In a boot, a leg portion of substantially semicircular configuration at its rearward extremity to closely fit the rear periphery of a human leg, a greatly enlarged and substantially circular forward portion extending outwardly from said rearward extremity of substantially half again the diameter of said rearward extremity, the respective diameters of said portions being maintained in said leg portion to a point just above the instep of said boot, and a pair of lace ties disposed at one side of the frontal median line of said boot leg to receive and contain the fold line of said enlarged forward portion of said boot leg when folded about the leg of a wearer.

LOUIS ERNEST ELWIN GOSSNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Number Name Date Tyler, Jr Feb. 2, 1886 Parkman Oct. 3. 1905 Hathaway Oct. 22, 1907 Farrington Dec. 17, 1912 Hubbell Aug. 17, 1920 Van Dinter June 6, 1933 Olson Dec. 7, 1948 Malluk Jan. 11, 1949 Hatch June 14, 1949 Gossner July 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Denmark May 3, 1910 

